I had the most amazing shoot lined up with one of the most gifted and upcoming designers yesterday, none other than Marlecia van der Walt who goes under the label Marlecia Talenti Deo. I was super excited as from Marlecia’s description of the dress that she had designed and what she had in mind for the location. With the forest as the backdrop, a classic wedding dress with loads of detail and hair and makeup being done by Sam Scaife it was going to be team effort. With Justine modeling and some amazing light this is what we created.

Many thanks for allowing me to be part of this experience.

Dress: Created by Marlecia 082 8800840
Makeup: Sam Scaife www.lashline.co.za
Model: Justine
Location: Toadbury Hall


Above: Sam doing her magic.



Above: On location in the forest.





Above: Love all the attention to detail, magnificent design.

 

 

 

We are in the middle of winter, it’s cold, the fire place at home is burning and the wedding season is slowly easing off. Time to catch up, edit and reminisce of past weddings. Then before you know it, we are shooting a Winter Wedding. Not any Winter Wedding, but the Wedding Celebration of  Mary and Peter.This blog entry is going to be different from previous entries, just because it’s Winter. I was introduced to Mary by Sergio ( a great videographer and very close friend ) at Charlie and Felicia’s wedding which was a total blast.

As I had now met Mary, I enquired about Peter, Needless to say he was in Australia and would be coming out to South Africa a few days before the wedding. A week passed , and a few phone calls later a meeting was arranged between myself and Mary and her mom, details were discussed, time plans were drawn up, wedding agreement was signed, retainer was paid we had a wedding to photograph.

On to the imagery, and and some behind the scenes commentary.A bit about Mary & Peter.Peter is an accountant and a keen golfer. Peter is just one of those guys that you instantly connect with. Meeting up with him at the pre-shoot he reminded me very much like one of those famous movie stars and boy can this man dance the Zeibekiko.While Mary is a geneticist who loves reading, traveling and shopping. Well I must admit that Mary most certainly has an eye for detail, from her tea that she hosted for her bridesmaids, down to the decor for reception.

Where did they meet?The two of them actually met up at Peter’s cousins wedding, and Mary was wearing a Red dress. ( More of his a bit later, see the photo shoot we did for their guest book ).

Was it Love at First Sight? Absolutely the two of them say. They were both in Australia visiting Peter’s family ( Peter had already asked permission from Mary’s father for his daughters hand in marriage ) when he popped the question to Mary in a park in Australia.

Who is the better cook? “Peter most definitely at the current moment, but that is only because I haven’t let the domestic goddess in me shine yet.”

Favourite International Destination? Greece.

What my you chooses your wedding dress, was it the style?  It described me, Romantic and whimsical. I am very lucky and fortunate, I have been going to them since I was sixteen before they were famous and before they emigrated to Dubai and focussed on hotel couture. But :) they always promised me that they would make my wedding dress.
Tell me a bit about your wedding shoes: Found them in Greece!!! and just fell in Love with them.

An awesome wedding and evening! Loved every minute of it. Many thanks for the privilege of allowing me to be part of your day. Enjoy Santorini and the most amazing sunsets in Oia.
Best wishes
Mario

BEHIND THE SCENES

Decor and Flowers: Franz Grabe Flower Couture

Wedding Planner/ Co-Ordinator: Kathy Lenitis

Entertainment: Costa Kousiakis

Wedding Dress: Marc & Michael

Makeup: Michaela Benigno

Hair : Karen

Videographer: Sergio Baptista

Cake: Franco the Cakeman

Mary had decided to have a tea / champagne tea for her bridesmaids and Koumbara ( Maid of honour) no attention to detail was spared. It was amazing watching them have fun and chatting away.









I just love these images above. This is Mary with her parents and what makes it so special is, that this is a photograph of  Mary's parents when they got married. Priceless.





























At the Church I noticed that these blossoms were beginning to bloom, like it was spring. This just goes to show that even in winter life is full of surprises, This just encompasses the wedding of Mary and Peter. Ok! So I am in the church photographing the ceremony and I notice this page boy and girl. All the kids are like gold in the church while the ceremony is in progress. But there must have been some rivalry going on between the two of them. I decided to watch them, and shoot whatever happens. Here is how the story unfolds.

 

An angellic face, gorgeous light, all rapt on what is going on.

A word spoken or two,

Mmmh! Love the expression.

She then wipes something away.

He closes his eyes,

More smiles

This is serious? ' No it's not."

Thanks. It's amazing what you can capture at a weding all the little behind the scene events that make up memories. This must be one of my all time favorite scenes. I must admit that there are some images in between that are a bit more boisterous. Eventually some parents had to act as a inbetween subsidary to ease off the sqabbling. In my eyes priceless and beautifull. This to me is what makes me want to photograph and capture the little nuances and hiiden gems of the behind scenes of weddings.







Check out the ice cubes!!!





Above: Love this image.

Having realized hat it has been quite a while since I have last photographed the boys, what better time to do it now. So on the spur of the moment this afternoon, gathered the "young folk" bundled them into the camper, with stool, costume, swimming cap ( Yikes it was freezing cold) even with a little bit of sun the kids weren't to pleased to have to go through the ordeal of having to conform and pose for a photograph that dad at the last minute decided to make. Making pictures was much easier when they were little.

Anyway the idea was to capture a bit about them and if I was lucky a bit of their personalities.

I have titled it  'The Intelectual, The Bohemian and The Competitor."

When one thinks of “Wedding” it always conjures up images of either Spring or Summer. What ever happened to Autumn? Well come to think of it, I’m not sure if it is an age think, but driving around in the suburbs or in the country side lately I have been marveling at the subtle change of colours. Just not so long ago we were still in the midst of Summer, well the recent cold snap soon pulled me out of my reverie and I realized that Autumn is finally here and I will be shooting a Autumn wedding with fresh eyes.

Asking Juanita while she was having her final touches to her makeup done, the question I asked her “Why Autumn?’. Her reply “ It’s a beautiful time of the year”. So this blog entry is especially dedicated to Francois, Juanita and Autumn.

Juanita must have been one of the most relaxed Brides I have yet photographed, with everything running according to schedule. Her Wedding dress was elegant and simple, the statement “ less is more “ is a fitting way to describe it, with a splash of colour brought in by her wedding shoes, it was going to be a good day.

With every wedding most couples bring in something personal adding to the magic touch of the wedding, that little story behind it so to speak. Well the wedding cake was adorned with two Scotties, relevant? Absolutely, unfortunately they were not able to attend, but comming to think about it they did have a grand seat in the house. The decor was elegant, clean and simple. Just loved photographing all the detail.

Straight after the service, the couple released two white doves and the expression of Juanita with her ands in the air and the dove flying off is priceless.

Francois and Juanita, have a blast on your honeymoon and travel safe.
Best wishes.
Mario

 

 

I was going through some external hardrives, and believe me there were quite a few, never mind lookinfg for the power supplies for each one, thats another saga all together when I stumbled upon these. Brought back many memories, would I have approached the shoot differently?? Tough call, but thinking back now, I would most probably have shot it in a different way, still love these though, don't get me wrong. Anyway thought it would be cool to share some archive stuff.

Also came accross folders wih birthdays and family holidays, time flies. So it will be a process to get these organized and create some sense of order out of the chaos that resides and lives in that piece of electonic mumbo jumbo called "backups".

Enjoy.

Everybody got involved in the action.

Seems like there is one more use for a video light!!! PG showing how it should be done. Love this image.

So glad that I brought along the video light, all created using a bit of video light and a willing assistant.

The party really got wild and Rocking!!!!

 

 

 

This “ Shoot Out “ promises to educate , inspire and most importantly of all have a “blast “ learning new skills, getting new ideas, making new friends.

The Wedding Workshop has managed to get five talented Wedding photographers in the industry all together in one place to share ideas, styles and most importantly to share their trade secrets in this one day only event.

The format will take the form of watching how they approach the various assignments and then you putting into practice what you have just being shown. As space is limited to 20 shooters only, a strong emphasis on one on one mentoring will be the core of this one day workshop allowing plenty of time for Q&A’s.

     DATE: 10 APRIL 2011
     TIME: 09H00 - 18H00
MEETING POINT:
 NEW MARKET THEATRE
 PARKING LOT
 NEWTOWN         
  JOHANNESBURG
56 Margaret Mcingana Street (previously Wolhuter), Johannesburg

Co-ordinates:
S -26.200845
E 28.03256

Only space for 20 shooters available. For a reservation form to be mailed to you
email:mgsales@worldonline.co.za
Subject Heading: The High Noon Shootout